The High Price of Kindness

by Bronyxy


5 A Flirtation with Happiness

A week after she had returned, a stranger arrived at Ponyville station and headed for the florist at the centre of town. The unicorn was clearly more of a city pony than one used to the provinces, and looked more than a little out of place due to his overly smart appearance. However the arrival of a handsome stallion was enough to impress Daisy, Lily and Rose, who were all very keen to serve him personally. By chance, Rose happened to be the nearest when he approached their stall and kept the other two at bay with a look that told them in no uncertain terms “this one’s mine”.

“Good morning, Sir” she said, showing him her best smile, “What can I do for you today?”
“Good morning, Miss” he replied with a polite bow, a reflex action from his job, “A bouquet of your finest flowers please.”
“But of course, Sir. I take it they’re for a date?”
“Why, yes Miss; as a matter of fact they are.”
Daisy and Lily didn’t know whether to giggle at his over-the-top-manners or swoon, so settled on just staring with mouths open; he wasn’t like any other stallion they were used to seeing round the town.
“And what colour fur and mane does your date have?” she asked.

He looked mildly affronted at the personal nature of the question, so she continued quickly “… You know, so I can co-ordinate the colours.”
“Oh, oh I see” he stammered, his cheeks turning pink, “Primrose yellow with a pink mane.”
“I only know one pony with that colouring round here” she commented casually as she started to select the blooms, “Do you know where you’re going to meet up, or would you like directions?”
“Oh, er, thank you Miss” he shifted awkwardly, “Her name’s Fluttershy and she lives in a cottage …”
“Thought so”, she replied cheerfully, “She’s a lovely mare. How did you meet, if it’s not too personal?”
“At the Royal Castle in Canterlot …”
At this, Daisy and Lily both let out a gasp and swooned; he was clearly a pony of breeding, and was surely some kind of royalty himself with such polite manners.

“Are your friends alright?” he asked, concerned.
“Don’t mind them” she replied with a smile, putting the final touch to the wrapping by tying a large bow around the stems, “Now, would you like me to tell you the way to Fluttershy’s cottage?”
He paid and listened carefully to the directions before extending his thanks to all three of them and setting off to meet the mare he had been dreaming of for a whole week.

He followed the winding path out of town and through the beautiful scenery that was all the more breathtaking as he was a city pony, born and bred, and unused to such delights. He stopped on the little bridge near Fluttershy’s cottage and looked all around him, taking in the views of brightly coloured flowers and tasting the scent of the aromatic blossoms as he filled his lungs with pride.
“This” he said to himself, resuming his walk, ”Is heaven.”

He arrived at the front door and knocked. There was a scurrying of activity within, and shortly the top half of the door began to open. He stepped back, having expected the door to open inwards and prepared to greet the timid pegasus, but was startled to see an enormous bear staring back at him.
“Fluttershy …?” he enquired, stepping back a little further so as to ensure he had a head start if he had to run.
Harry growled and pointed round the corner to the back door.
“Oh, OK …” he replied, both intimidated and fascinated in equal measure. Could Fluttershy really be employing a bear as a doorman? It certainly wouldn’t go without a comment in Canterlot, but he consoled himself by thinking maybe that’s how ponies lived out in the country. At least this bear appeared be friendly, although his vocabulary did seem a little limited.

He walked round the cottage to the back door as he had been directed, and found the same bear waiting for him. Slightly less shocked this time, he attempted to make conversation.
“So …” he began, not really knowing what more to say to a bear with an evident shortage of smalltalk, “Nice place to work?”
Harry grunted, leaving an awkward silence between them, his eyes not leaving the stranger’s for a second. "This bear would so not cut it as a doorman in Canterlot" he thought.

The next few moments dragged by like hours before Fluttershy made her appearance from behind her trusted assistant. The lines on her muzzle betrayed her tiredness, but at seeing Silver Salver, her eyes sparkled.
“Hello Fluttershy” he said, his heart skipping a beat as he presented her with the flowers, “It’s lovely to see you again.”
“Oh thank you; they’re beautiful” she beamed happily, then adding as an afterthought, ”Oh, and it’s so nice to see you again too.”

“So, how are you after all the excitement of the wedding?”
“Busy” she replied sadly, “I look after animals that can’t help themselves, and right now I’ve got one that needs a lot of attention.”
“Oh, can I help?”
“No, sorry” she said regretfully, “But seeing as you’ve come such a long way, I’m sure I can spare time to show you round, if you want.”
She took the flowers back into the cottage and looked down at Chrysalis who scowled back up at her.
“I’m so sorry” whispered Fluttershy apologetically, ”But he’s come a very long way and if I don’t spend some time with him, he’ll know something’s wrong.”
The enamel green eyes glowered back at her accusingly as Chrysalis turned her head unnaturally to keep eye contact, but she never said a word; she didn’t need to.

Fluttershy had no choice other than to enjoy herself for a few hours in the company of somepony she liked very much. She turned and left, tears of guilt in her eyes as she knew she was failing her patient, but tried to blot out all such thoughts as she made her way out of the oppressive gloom of her cottage and into the light. If she was going to get into trouble with Chrysalis, then this would be a nice way to do it; at least she would have some good memories that would make her love even richer for her to feed off when she returned.

Hesitant, because of a deep sense of guilt that she could not mention, she led him into town to show him the sights Ponyville had to offer, which mostly consisted of the places her friends frequented. She took him first to Golden Oak library where they had tea with Twilight, then on to Carousel Boutique, where they had tea with Rarity, but after this they both began to feel they couldn’t handle any more tea and a spot of lunch would be in order. Fluttershy had been putting off meeting Pinkie Pie in case her Pinkie sense betrayed her dark secret, and sure enough, as soon as they entered Sugarcube Corner, they heard a loud gasp, followed by a pink pony trembling and gesticulating wildly.

“Is she alright?” he asked.
“That’s just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie” said Fluttershy, as if that answered the question perfectly.
“Oh hi, Fluttershy! Haven’t seen you in a long time! Who’s your friend? I haven’t seen him before, and if I haven’t seen him before he must be new around here and that means …”
“Pinkie” giggled Fluttershy, ”We don’t have time for a party, at least not today. Could we have two of your special muffins please?”
“Coming right up!” replied the pink pony with a dazzling smile before disappearing to complete the order like a whirlwind behind the counter.

“These are some of my best friends” said Fluttershy happily.
“I know; I’ve read all about your adventures, but I never thought I would get to meet so many of the famous Element Bearers” he said, then added, “Thank you.”

He reached a forehoof up to stroke her mane away from her eyes, daring to make physical contact, but just at that moment, a big box containing two enormous cupcakes covered in a schizophrenic jumble of toppings was placed down in front of them, Pinkie beaming at her haphazard creativity.

“I don’t think you’re going to get the lid to go down; I’ve put a bit of all my favourite toppings on each of them, and since everything in the bakery is my favourite, I’ve covered them in everything!”
Silver Salver couldn’t help but smile at this pony’s randomness, and extended his forehoof with bits in payment.
“Nah! They’re on me” said Pinkie Pie, then added in a whisper, “They’re not really on me, don’t worry – they’re in the box!”
“Thank you” giggled Fluttershy.
“Are you gonna eat in?” she asked.
“No thanks” replied Fluttershy, ”You’re very kind, but we’ve had a busy morning, so we’ll be off to the park, if that’s alright with you.”
“Go on” Pinkie urged, “Go enjoy your date.”
They said their goodbyes and then set off to enjoy their picnic somewhere a little less manic, Fluttershy heaving a sigh of relief that Pinkie had been too wrapped up with the arrival of Silver Salver to notice anything more sinister.

She led the two of them to a lovely spot in the park overlooking a pond where they laid down together and attempted to get through all the sugary goodness that Pinkie had given them. It was the first food Fluttershy had eaten in a week, and it wasn’t long before her tiredness coupled with her freshly satisfied hunger made her eyelids heavy. She leaned against him under the warm sun and soon started to doze. He couldn’t have been happier, basking in the serenity around them and feeling her resting softly against him. It was a simple date, but it could not have been better for either of them.

All too soon, Fluttershy became aware of how long she had been away from her cottage and began to get fretful. Silver Salver picked up on the cues and escorted her home, enjoying another meandering walk with the mare of his dreams. They arrived at the back door and Fluttershy knew she would have to say goodbye, but in her heart, she didn’t want to. It was clear that he felt the same too.

“You’ve come an awfully long way to see me today” commented Fluttershy.
“It’s been worth every minute” replied the lovestruck Silver Salver, desperate to take her back with him.
Embarrassed to say any more words, she leaned across and kissed him, a soft and gentle kiss that he would remember forever. Just for that moment, she suspended her reality, and nothing mattered but the two of them.

Nothing.

He sensed her need, but as a servant to his own duties, he understood her need to get back to hers, and softly pulled away. When he opened his eyes, he could see fresh tear streaks down her muzzle, some of which were hers, but others he knew to be his.
“I should go” he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.
She so wanted him to stay, but equally knew she couldn’t allow him to share in her dark secret. She tried to speak, but a lump had risen in her throat and the most she could say without breaking down in tears was, “uh-huh”.

She watched as he turned and walked away; her hero leaving the scene without his damsel. It wasn’t the way the story was supposed to end, but here she was, staring longingly after him as he left to return to his own life, miles away.

With a heavy heart, she turned and opened the back door, dreading her reception.

Chrysalis was still in the same position, with her head twisted round at the same unnatural angle as it had been when she had left. Suddenly her green eyes sprang open.
“You’ve been gone for hours” she said, “My healing has been set back because of your absence.”
“I’m sorry” whispered Fluttershy, ”I’ll make it up to you now, if you like.”

Chrysalis patted the rug next to her, not as an invitation, but as a demand, and Fluttershy obeyed.